Talula’s Garden

Nooooo. Had many meals here and all were excellent. For the first time ever I sent back my meal. Noooo! However, they recovered quickly and brought me a well prepared piece of pork.

Dined here last Saturday night. Sat outside, table of four. Our server was fantastic. She and the kitchen paced everything perfectly. We each ordered a small plate, a half pasta, and an entrée. We had cocktails and wine. The bill was expensive, but we ordered a lot of food. We tried all 4 of the pastas– each excellent. I love homemade pastas! My appetizer was the fried oysters. So yummy! The dressing was delicious! For my entrée I had the petite butcher filet. The meat was cooked perfectly and very flavorful. The dish as a whole was great but the crab pasta and oyster salad were the stars of the night. Great ambience. Outside seating is amazing.

A few months back, I was thinking of places to go for the GF and my anniversary. After passing on the usual suspects, I couldn’t believe that we still had not been to Talula’s Garden. This was quickly remedied with a reservation at the enduring (and endearing!) Washington Square West hotspot.
The Artist [$ 11]
Prosecco, grapefruit, St. Germain
The GF started off the night with a light sparkler. Grapefruit definitely complements effervescence well whether it’s a paloma or this subtly sweet tipple.
The Treehugger [$ 14]
Bourbon, maple and black walnut bitters
Black walnut bitters seem to be all the rage these days with the city’s mixologists. And with good reason — I enjoyed what was essentially Talula’s take on a maple manhattan — sweet with substantive body from the bourbon.
Amuse Bouche
We were presented with a nice amuse of goat’s milk cheese and raspberry jam atop a crisp flatbread. Tangy and sweet, there was nothing wrong with this!
Bread Service
One of the best bites of the night wasn’t anything we had even ordered. The house-​baked brioche was buttery and warm. It was topped with a pat of maple cayenne butter, which brought a nice spicy kick on the finish — right to the back of the throat! I savored each bite slowly and it took all I had not to ask for another!
Fresh Baked Ligurian ‘Foccacia di Recco’ [$ 16]
Fennel jam, whipped ricotta, juicy blistered grapes, buffalo taleggio, truffle honey
A must order in my mind is the Ligurian Foccacia di Recco, which often makes an appearance on Talula’s seasonal menu. We enjoyed one topped with fennel jam, whipped ricotta, and buffalo taleggio. Basically think of a crispy, buttery, and cheesy tart, with the truffle honey complementing the sweet blistered grapes nicely.
Brown Butter Glazed Potato Gnocchi [$ 16]
Slow-​roasted pulled capon, local mushrooms, dandelion-​sage pistou
The gnocchi were well-​made, with the fattened capon adding richness to the broth and each bite. The pistou added a nice balance to each bite with fresh basil and garlic notes. A shave of parm imparted a last hit of salt that brought out all of the individual flavors.
Maryland Crab & Bow Ties [$ 16]
Parmesan-​meyer lemon-​parsnip nage, brussels, bacon bits, tarragon hazelnut vinaigrette
The acidity of the lemon parsnip broth complemented the sweet crab well, with the bacon bits providing some salt and the brussel leaves supporting each bite with some backbone. The bow-​ties were well-​made and perfectly al dente.
Pan-​Fried Rainbow Trout [$ 28]
Griddled russet potato cake, bacon, broccoli, pickled cipollini onion, horseradish crème
The GF’s crisply fried trout was nicely seasoned. I loved the acidity of the pickled onions and there was nothing wrong with the latke — crisp, onion-​laden, and with nice heft to balance out the lightness of the fish and veggies.
Berkshire Pork Belly [$ 29]
Pan-​roasted local orchard apples, five spice apple butter, pickled radish, fresh ginger salad
My pork belly was a stunner. Unctuous and fatty, there was nothing unabashed about this dish. The ginger salad and pickled radish provided a nice countervailing acidity to the heft of the pork, with the roasted apples and five spice apple butter adding sweetness that always complement pork so well.
Buttery Georgia Grits [$ 8]
Nora Mills white corn grits, caramel sea salt compound butter
While this dish could have used a touch more salt, the white corn grits had great texture and was surprisingly subtly sweet from the caramel compound butter.
Sweet & Spicy Sugar Beets [$ 8]
Honey cardamom vinaigrette, mint, pickled pepper and cumin yogurt
On the other hand, the sweet and spicy sugar beets were a winner in my book. Sweet, light, with great texture studded throughout each bite, these were addictively delicious.
Kentucky ‘Pecan Pie’ Ice Cream Sundae [$ 11]
Bourbon-​pecan ice cream, gooey pie crust, bourbon sauce
At this point, we were stuffed and had plenty of leftovers. But you have to get dessert, right? While the pie crust wasn’t as gooey as I thought it would be, the bourbon-​pecan ice cream was the stuff dreams are made of!
Salted Caramel Chocolates
The kitchen also graciously sent out some chocolate sea-​salt caramels to end our meal — always an appreciated gesture typical of any Starr Restaurant production.
Talula’s is definitely a beacon of gustatory delights. In fact, days later, I was thinking about a few of those dishes. The brioche, the foccacia tart, and the pork belly? Unreal. Highly recommend Talula’s for a proper date night — I know I’ll be back soon!

I’ve said it multiple times within my myriad of Unilocal reviews, but I really love when a place commits to a theme. Talula’s flat out provides an amazing experience in one of the most beautiful settings I’ve seen in the city. Inside is pretty, and clean and open, by itself it would be a nice ambiance restaurant and truly enjoyable. However, the garden is just everything. It is like a little fair world. Its romantic, and fun and whimsical covered in plants and lights it really transports you. This is not a place you go to just for the food, find a special occasion, or a reason to celebrate, or if you’re visiting our fair city make a reservation. Sit in the garden, wait as long as you have to if you must and enjoy a cocktail.
Though the shining star is the ambiance the food itself is amazing and worth the 5 stars. We did the tasting menu with the wine pairing since we did not feel like making decisions that night, and every one of the 9 courses was spectacular. It is also a lot of food for a tasting menu and you will leave satisfied, I promise. I can’t recall all that we had but the fried oysters and salmon were among the stand outs. The regular menu looked amazing as well and I’m sure just as much thought goes into everything. Everything is thoughtful, and perfectly done, its evident that all of the food is well thought out and fresh. I also have to note that the wine pairing is also the way to go, the pours are huge and if you’re nice they will WAY over pour (not a complaint) and the wines are all fantastic, my wine snob date was impressed.
The service was top notch as well. I’m a huge Steven Starr fan maybe because having worked for him I know that guest experience is held to a very high importance and the staff here is truly dedicated to that. Our server was sweet and friendly and every course came out perfectly timed. The manager was pouring the wine for us and he was knowledgeable and willing to talk to us about the wine and the restaurant and so forth. I loved every minute of my experience here and it should be at the top of your list for your next visit or special occasion.

I came here Saturday night for a special dinner with my boyfriend. I was sadly very disappointed. I thought it was very expensive for the quality of the food/​service. The garden is nice but there are tons of outdoor restaurants in Philly and the food here was not up to par, I do not believe we will return. Small portions. Good drinks. Good charcuterie platter. My boyfriend ordered the steak but it was about 6oz and came with scant sides. The steak was also pre sliced which I thought was a no no because it dries out the meat. I ordered the side of beets and salad. I was less than impressed. I made these reservations 2 – 3 weeks ahead of time so I was very disappointed to say the least.

Talula’s Garden is one of my favorite spots in Philadelphia. I went for their brunch (only served on Sundays) and absolutely loved the food and the ambiance. The restaurant had both indoor and outdoor seating available. We stayed inside because of the warm weather but the outdoor looked very nice/​pretty.
We ordered «goat cheese gnocchi» and «ham & eggs». The gnocchi was alright but I loved the ham & egg dish. I’m not a big ham/​meat person but it was delicious.
Our server wasn’t super friendly but the GM of the restaurant went around and introduced herself to each table. She seemed very nice and genuine.

Came here on a Tuesday, what a great experience! Parking was difficult and they don’t have valet on Tuesday’s, but I found a spot about a block away, so not bad for the area. I started with the watercress soup and the Flatbread stuffed with ricotta. The soup was ok, not really the flavor I had hoped for, but my friend liked it. The Flatbread was absolutely amazing! The flavors that they created, along with an essence of lemon, just wow! I was worried that it would be the best part of the meal, glad I was wrong. For the entrees, we had the salmon and the duck. The salmon was delicious, lighter in flavor, as a fish dish should be. The duck was hearty, served with Farro and a wonderful sauce. I was so satisfied with the flavors and portions, I didn’t think I would be able to order dessert, but I found a little space lol. Although the entrees were amazing, I can’t say enough about the dessert. I ordered the mascarpone cheesecake with the strawberry balsamic sauce. I also ordered the tawny port, figured it would be a great pair, it was perfect! Overall, excellent experience! Cory, the server, was a true professional! The GM also stopped by the table to check on us, which I thought was a nice touch. I’ll definitely be back!

Went to the outside garden bar for drinks. This place is so cute. You can order the same cheese trays at Talula’s Daily and their drinks are phenomenal.
You will not be a stranger just eating your cheese tray as your entrée. Or even eating a cheese tray as an appetizer on your own here. It just happens because it’s THAT good. Tried some entrees at the bar as well and of course it was delicious. I’m usually at Talula’s Daily once a week on the weekend, so you know I love me some Talula’s.

The décor here is like the you’re in a wonderland of aristocratic beauty. The greenery inside and out surrounds each seating area. Beautiful!
The insomnia — their version of an espresso martini. Strong with a punch.
Vanilla cappuccino — sweet and warm tasted like coffee ice cream
Deviled eggs — O. M. G. This was a great experience to share but seriously I didn’t want to share it! So refined with each bite and made a great start to an amazing meal.
The frittata — a little fishy as the salmon over powered but if that’s your thing you’ll love it.
Omelette — oozing with cheesy goodness this was a unique take on a classic. Amazing
A must for anyone else visiting Philadelphia.

Went here for brunch with my extended family for my college graduation and had a really wonderful experience punctuated by extremely friendly service and fantastic food in a nice setting.
Ambiance: The physical space is very nice with high ceilings and a charming rustic garden theme with mismatched silverware and bread plates that are much more endearing than anything I could manage to pull off if trying to capture that same aesthetic.
Service: When the waitstaff realized my grandmother was not able to walk very easily they gave us a great table that was easy for her to get to and also made sure that there was no draft by closing and redirecting certain vents to accommodate her and the rest of my party. Additionally, without even asking if it was a special occasion they wrote congratulations on my dessert with piped frosting and had a manager come to the table and congratulate me in person. Very charming and not overbearing. They were also very accommodating of my father’s nut allergies and gave him a complimentary scoop of sorbet after informing him that the donuts contained almond flour.
Food: This is my favorite brunch in Philadelphia because the menu has so many options that have mass appeal and are really delicious. I had the ham and eggs dish with a side of creamy caramel butter grits that were really sensational. The eggs were supple and had sublime flavor and the ham (which had a bacon-​like texture with a bit more meatiness) was cooked excellently as well and was paired nicely with a homemade honey mustard. I also tasted the seasonal buttermilk and strawberry maple syrup pancakes that were deliciously sweet and fresh as well. For dessert we each had a hot lavender donut (which they upsized from a usual portion of 5 donuts to 6 to accommodate our party) that was a great sweet bite to end the meal on.
Overall a really nice experience with great company for a great occasion. Highly recommend to all for a nice brunch out. I thank Talula’s Garden for helping to make my graduation day easier and that much more special!

I am a huge fan of Talula’s Daily, so I was excited to try Talula’s Garden for brunch. I am more than willing to pay high prices for high quality meals. For an omelette to cost $ 22 – 24 and pancakes at $ 19, as they are on the Spring 2016 menu at Talula’s Garden, means that the omelette and pancakes in question must be the best in the world. Did they live up to this standard on this occasion at Talula’s Garden? Sadly, not so much. The food is good, please don’t misunderstand. It is fresh and locally sourced, both qualities I value. The Lavender Donuts on the menu are divine, but not worth $ 12 for the 5 donut-​holes and a bit of meringue and lemon on the side.
The service is satisfactory, if not a little underdone. The ambiance is great. However, the value for a brunch here with the current Spring 2016 menu and pricing is out of question. I will not return until the value for the brunch improves.

Another review saying Talula’s is the bees knees for brunch. This was my second time dining there and I ordered The Butcher both times as my Sunday funday drink. It’s an awesome Bloody Mary — pickled green beans are a nice touch and they infuse Tito’s vodka with peppers in house so it’s spicy and on point.
Split the lavender donuts. It came as an order of 5 and I easily could have eaten all 5 by myself — delicious.
I ordered huevos rancheros as my main because I get down with some fancy eggs. They were very tasty, but I’d likely try something a tad more adventurous next time.
Was too full for dessert, but would’ve loved to have tried the carrot cake…
Great ambiance, both in and out. Servers are attentive without being annoying. You need reservations. It’s pricy but worth it.

We went to Talula’s Garden for an early weekday dinner after several people recommended it, and are so glad that we did! Luckily the weather cooperated (and there had heat lamps) so we were able to sit in the garden, which is a beautiful little oasis in the middle of the city. The service, atmosphere and food were all great.
What we ordered:
Starters:
Watercress and leek soup– tasty with nice presentation. Poured at table. We shared one soup between two. Nice light appetizer.
Entrees:
Goat Cheese Gnocchi– delicious, soft, pillowy gnocchi in light sauce
Mushroom cannelloni– Highlight of our order. This was fantastic! I wish we ordered the large portion. Loved the filling of the cannelloni.
Sides:
Sweet and spicy sugar beets– large portion for a side. Beets were great. Though we couldn’t taste much cardamom, honey, cumin or pepper flavor. Very, very lightly dressed but still good.
The amuse bouche was a croissant like pastry filled with cheese or cream (not exactly sure) and it was really good.
Overall, this place had excellent vegetarian options. The two of us were stuffed after 1 soup, two appetizer portion entrees, 1 side, and the complimentary pastry.
Highly recommended!

Talula’s pride’s itself on having only the freshest ingredients and quality food. I’d agree with that statement for sure. Located in Washington Sq. what i remember the most is the high ceilings and beautiful garden on the side (where they have outdoor seating and i bet serve a fabulous brunch).
The cosmo i ordered here was seriously one of the best Cosmo’s i have ever had. Smooth and refreshing. props to the bartender! The food was delicious. Great service and a fun night for sure.

When visiting Philly last weekend I felt a strong yearning. This intense emotional uphill battle was not about reaching the top of the rocky steps, nor finding the best cheesesteak in town, and it certainly had nothing to do with the Flyers or Phillies. Rather, I had this feeling of need (not want) where I must find myself at Talula’s Garden at some point in the 24 hours in Philly or I might self-​destruct.
Two years ago I was on a project in Wilmington, DE. The food there was by and far atrocious so I would venture up to Philly at least 1x per week (maybe more). I have lived, been on projects, and ventured to good restaurants all up and down the east coast (from Maine down to VA and Talula’s remains in my Top 3. I’m talking value, experience, quality of food and service, and the ambiance. It captures the entire package for a great dining experience, wraps it in a bow, and delivers enthusiastically to all of your senses.
Tucked away in the perfect location off of Washington Square from the garden setting, to the predominantly wooden interior, you get that sense of escape from metro Philly. The servers are just so knowledgeable about the menus (that happen to be quite robust and always changing may I add). They are always prepared to answer questions and even ask questions to give you the best suggestions. Finally the food is always palate pleasing and visually stimulating. Presentations are always beautiful and I have always left full and longing to try other menu items. I have even returned the next day for brunch before.
My strategy here for two people is simple. 2 cocktails (always awesome). One starter, one pasta, one main, and one side. I have always tried to save room for dessert. Sometimes that works but not always. It is hard to give specific dishes here since the menu constantly changes. However, beets, seafood pastas, lentil soups, short rib, and scallops have historically been menu favorites for me here. Going forward, upon any knowledge of a need to be in Philly for any reason at all my first order of business will be to book a Talula’s reservation.

! I’m really glad I got a chance to try this amazing restaurant. Everything looked beautiful!
The interior is very warming and French simple décor and the outdoor is very romantic! We got a beautiful table outside but due to the weather we had to go inside.
The food was beyond perfection. everything we have ordered was delicious, fresh and perfectly plated.
Watercress and leek soup with lemon mascarpone and crispy baguettes was very tasty!
Semolina cavatalli with braised veal, yellow and red cherry tomato Confi: must to order
And the scallops risotto with calamari was phenomenal that’s also a must to order
Ther service was excellent, the staff were very friendly, attentive and helpful. They let us choose our table, helped to change our table due to the weather, they recommended and described some of their favorite dishes, they change the plates and silverware with every dish we ordered. Thumps up for a great team work!
Price wise was very reasonable for a fine dining restaurant.
I highly recommend this place! It’s perfect for a date night or any kinda celebration. Make sure to request the outdoor tables of the weather is nice.

What a magical place! I wish we got to sit in the garden but didn’t make a reservation in time. The inside was still beautiful!
Food: it was one of the best meals I’ve had recently. We ordered…
Salmon with Brussels sprouts: highly recommend!
Crab meat pasta: also delicious!
Cod: also solid, but I enjoyed the salmon better.
Mushroom side: earthy and flavorful!
Ricotta doughnuts: get it!
Service was fantastic and truly enjoyed their complimentary bread along with their beautiful plates! I will definitely be coming back the next time I’m in Philly!

Everything about this place is magical — the food, the drinks, the garden, the service. When you first arrive, you walk through a romantically lit garden with plenty of outdoor seating. They keep heat lamps on well into the fall, so I highly recommend dining outside if the weather cooperates. However, inside is just as charming. There is also a beautiful bar kept somewhat separate from the primary dining room.
They have a great cocktail list and plenty of wine to choose from. The bartenders are super friendly.
Now the best part, the food. They have a full list of pre-​paired cheese boards — definitely a great way to start the meal, but don’t fill up on cheese. You don’t want to miss out on the rest! I’d recommend ordering a ton of food and just sharing it so you can try a little bit of everything.
Highlights from the «Beginnings» section: cornmeal fried oysters, fennel and arugula salad, focaccia. In «Pasta,» I’d recommend the mushroom cannelloni or goat cheese gnoochi and the salmon from the main section. Though, I’m convinced you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu.
As painful as it will be to fit ANY more food in your belly, you simply can’t skip on dessert. And definitely go with the carrot cake. No regrets!

What a beautiful oasis in the city. The outside garden is gorgeous, but unfortunately it was too cold out to enjoy it. Regardless, inside they had a nice romantic atmosphere. This place was packed on a Saturday night, so make reservations!
Our waiter was great and knowledgable, and the guys who brought out the food knew their stuff too!
First, the drinks… Get them, enjoy them, and savor them cuz they’re delicious. The artist was light, bubble and fruity and the hitchhiker was a fantastic mojito.
We started with the fried oysters and focaccia with ricotta. The oysters were a great start, but the focaccia was a little heavy with all the ricotta.
The crab bowtie pasta was fantastic, heck I could have just had a big bowl of that!
The salmon and golden chicken we both great entrees as well. I don’t know how they cook their brussel sprouts, but those were the best I’ve had.
And of course, dessert… The butterscotch pudding. It was a light and sweet end to dinner. It was almost a perfect dish… it was just hard to eat the chocolate pretzel without it crumbling all over you.
Great place to celebrate special occasions! I can’t wait to come back because there is so much good stuff on the menu to still try!

Holy moly… what a meal! During a recent visit to Philadelphia, my friend and I dined at this amazing Washington Square hotspot per a recommendation from a coworker. So happy we did!
We started off with the fried oysters which was a fairly hearty portion, served with a salad type topping. Delish. For entrees, my friend ordered the salmon and Brussels sprouts and I had the New England cod – nom. I had a bite of her meal and absolutely loved it. Tender salmon and perfectly crisp veggies. Mine was amazing – buttery cod, impeccably spiced fingerling potatoes, and a small side salad. Yum! We shared a carrot cake for dessert which was a perfectly sized portion for two people to split, with an ice cream side.
Prior to our food being brought out, we were presented with these amazing little croissant type breads, filed with garlic butter. Oh. My. Goodness. I wanted to bathe in that butter. So good in fact, that we asked for another portion.
Make sure to grab a reservation for Talula’s – this gem fills up! So worth the trip!

Très bonne adresse «farm to table», magnifiques produits de saison et une cuisine new american plutôt très réussie. Le service est aux petits soins, très professionnel, et l’ambiance de la salle est plutôt très chouette, et pas trop bruyante. À noter que les cocktails sont aussi excellents. Nous nous sommes régalés mais je dois avouer qu’ayant fait Vernick le lendemain, la comparaison est un peu cruelle et j’ai été moins surpris par les mariages de saveur de Talula. Je né peux néanmoins que le conseiller à 200%, c’est une adresse sûre et Philly oblige, relativement raisonnable côté addition.